Quotes on Postmortal Life

What we do here is so vital, but is actually a preparation for our labors in paradise in the spirit world. The scope in that spirit world is ten times as large as are the demographics of this world. It is, though, a place of peace, a place of intense devotion. One sees in section 138 of the Doctrine and Covenants words that tell us about the character of God. Not only will the gospel go to those who have never heard of it, but also included are those who have been in transgression, in rebellion, and who have rejected the prophets. . . .

We do not control what I call the great transfer board in the sky. The inconveniences that are sometimes associated with release from our labors here are necessary in order to accelerate the work there. Heavenly Father can’t do His work with ten times more people than we have on this planet, except He will on occasion take some of the very best sisters and brothers. The conditions of termination here, painful though they are, are a part of the conditions of acceleration there. Thus we are back to faith in the timing of God, and to be able to say Thy timing be done, even when we do not fully understand it. — Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “Glorify Christ,” Address to CES Religious Educators, February 2, 2001, Salt Lake Tabernacle

Those who hear the words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, . . enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21), will be filled with unspeakable joy. Those so adjudged can say of their own tiny trek, “It is finished,” and yet so much will have just begun! — Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Things As They Really Are, p. 119

This life is a part of eternity. This is one stage of our eternal lives. When we die, we will go on to purposeful, active, challenging living. The life on the other side of the veil will be somewhat like the life here. If we have been clean and decent and good here, we will go on in that same spirit. If we have been rascals, we will go in that same spirit. I believe that. I believe in the eternity of life. It is as much a part of my belief as anything that I know of, that this is not the end, that there will be another life, that we will be accountable to God our Father and to our Lord Jesus Christ, that we will have work to do and that sometime we will all participate in the resurrection. That is my hope, my faith, my testimony. — President Gordon B. Hinckley, from interview in El Pais newspaper, November 7, 1997;Church News, February 7, 1998, p. 2

There is something tangible about the views of the Latter-day Saints concerning the future. We do not expect to sit upon a cloud, playing a harp throughout the endless ages of eternity. There will be work for us to do work of the most glorious and exalted character. Oh! what joy will fill the hearts of those who are faithful when they meet the Lord, and He welcomes them back to His presence, having been true and unswerving in their integrity while they were in the flesh. — President George Q. Cannon, February 27, 1898, Gospel Truth 1:108

I believe there is a strong familial pull as the influence of beloved ancestors continues with us from the other side of the veil. — President James E. Faust, “Dear Are the Sheep That Have Wandered,”Ensign, May 2003, p. 62

The word “damned”. . . means to be deprived of the highest glory. It does not mean “lost.” Says Brigham Young: “To be damned is to be banished from or be deprived of living in the presence of the Father and the Son.” — Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 97

A gentleman asked the Prophet Joseph once if he believed that all other sects and parties would be damned excepting the Mormons. Joseph Smith’s reply was, “Yes, sir, and most of the Mormons too, unless they repent.” We believe that all will be damned who do not receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ; but we do not believe that they will go into a lake which burns with brimstone and fire, and suffer unnamed and unheard-of torments, inflicted by cruel and malicious devils to all eternity.

The sectarian doctrine of final rewards and punishments is as strange to me as their bodiless, partless, and passionless God. Every man will receive according to the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or bad. [D&C 76:110-111] All men, excepting those who sin against the Holy Ghost, who shed innocent blood or who consent thereto, will be saved in some kingdom [D&C 76:40-45; 88:29-32]; for in my father’s house, says Jesus, are many mansions. — Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 11:125-126, June 18, 1865

I am sure many of you know that the veil can be very thin – that there are people over there who are pulling for us – people who have faith in us and who have great hopes for us, who are hoping and praying that we will measure up – our loved ones (parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, and friends) who have passed on. — The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 31